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Abington, MA

Frequently asked questions

Abington, MA

Abington is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Boston. The population was 17,062 at the 2020 census.

Before the Europeans made their claim to the area, the local Native Americans referred to the area as Manamooskeagin, meaning "great green place of shaking grass". Two streams in the area were named for the large beaver population: Schumacastacut or "upper beaver brook" and Schumacastuscacant or "lower beaver brook".

Abington was first settled by European settlers in 1668. The lands included the current towns of Bridgewater, Rockland, Whitman, and parts of Hanover. The town was officially incorporated in 1712, having been named six years earlier by Governor Joseph Dudley as a tribute to Anne Venables-Bertie, Countess of Abingdon, wife of the second Earl of Abingdon, who helped him secure the governorship of the colony from Queen Anne. The Earl of Abingdon is named from Abingdon-on-Thames in Oxfordshire (then Berkshire), UK. Indeed, the original petition from Governor Dudley ordered that "the Town be named Abingdon". A marginal note on the document gave the spelling as "Abington" as it has been known ever since.

Abington has evolved into a predominantly residential community with some light manufacturing. Abington is located at 42°7′10″N 70°56′52″W (42.119534, –70.947876). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.9 square miles (25.6 km2), of which 9.7 square miles (25.0 km2) is land and 0.23 square miles (0.6 km2), or 2.41%, is water.

Abington ranks 308th of 351 communities in the Commonwealth and is the fourth-smallest town (behind Hull, Whitman, and Rockland) in Plymouth County. Abington is bordered by Holbrook to the northwest, Weymouth to the northeast, Rockland to the east, Whitman to the south, and Brockton to the west. Abington is considered to be an inland town on the South Shore and is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Boston.

Abington has two major waterways; the Shumatuscacant River to the west provides the town's border with Brockton, and Beaver Brook runs through the eastern part of town; it was the source of much of the water power used by the shoe factories. In the northwestern corner of town lies Ames Nowell State Park, a large forested area around Cleveland Pond. Island Grove Pond was created in the 1700s when a dam was built on the Shumatuscacant River. Much of the town's population is centered on the eastern side of town, closer to the former town's geographic center. The northeast corner of town is also the site of portions of the runways of the South Weymouth Naval Air Station, which was closed in 1997 as a part of the fourth round of BRAC base closures.

Abington places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Morton Hospital offers a top-notch medical staff and a full spectrum of high-quality, state-of-the-art healthcare services. Northeast Health & Fitness provides various fitness programs to suit different needs. Start your wellness journey at South Shore YMCA, where you can enjoy fitness classes and swimming.  For a more relaxing experience, visit Nirvana Yoga and Wellness for yoga and meditation sessions. If you're into martial arts, Abington Martial Arts offers classes for all ages. Furnace Brook Physical Therapy provides excellent rehabilitation services. To unwind, visit Bear Mountain Spa, offering various spa treatments. 

Top Sites in Abington, MA are Ames Nowell State Park, Island Grove Park, and Abington Dog Park.

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Area: 10.19 sq mi (26.39 km2). Elevation: 33 m. ZIP Code: 02351. Area Code: 339. Population: 17062 (2020).

FAQs

Is Abington, MA a good place to live?

Abington is a suburb of Boston with a population of 17,003. Abington is in Plymouth County. Living in Abington offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Abington, there are a lot of coffee shops and parks. Many young professionals live in Abington and residents tend to lean liberal. The public schools in Abington are above average.

What is Abington, MA famous for?

An iron foundry was established there in 1769, and about 1815 Jesse Reed invented a machine that mass-produced tacks, thus enabling the footwear industry to thrive. Abington is reputed to have produced half of all the boots worn by the Union army in the American Civil War. From 1846 to 1865 it was a centre of the abolition movement. The economy is now largely service-oriented, although there is some light manufacturing.

What is the crime rate in Abington, MA?

Abington has an overall crime rate of 11 per 1,000 residents, making the crime rate here near the average for all cities and towns of all sizes in America. According to our analysis of FBI crime data, your chance of becoming a victim of crime in Abington is 1 in 91. How does Abington fare compared to other communities in Massachusetts of all population sizes? Abington's crime rate is lower than approximately 27% of Massachusetts communities.

Sources

Town of Abington

Wikipedia

Niche

Britannica

Neighborhood Scout

Ames Nowell State Park

Island Grove Park

Abington Dog Park

Morton Hospital

Northeast Health & Fitness

South Shore YMCA

Nirvana Yoga and Wellness

Abington Martial Arts

Furnace Brook Physical Therapy

Bear Mountain Spa,

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.